Track mounting clip for a track lighting system

• US 5,653,412 A
• Filed: 11/14/1994
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Martorano, Sam, Vafai, James
• Primary Examiner(s): BERGER, DEREK JOEL
• Application Number:
  US08/339,671
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 248/300, 248/222.12, 248/320, 248/343, 248/262, 248/309.1, 248/222.11, 160/178.1 R, 160/902, 362/147, 362/404, 362/418
• US Class Current: 248/222.11
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/025 Elongated bases having a U-shaped cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/34 Supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element telescopic mounting of lighting devices F21V21/22
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/105 in association with a plinth, channel, raceway or similar

Abstract

A track lighting system includes a track snap-on clip attached to a ceiling and forming a downwardly open channel into which a track member can be inserted by a snap action. The clip includes spring arms formed in opposite legs of the channel. When the track is pushed up into the channel, the spring arms are elastically displaced outwardly. When lateral shoulders of the track travel past respective spring arms, the spring arms snap inwardly to underlie the shoulders and support the track. The track snap-on clip can be mounted to the ceiling either directly by means of a fastener, or indirectly by means of another member, such as a T-bar clip or a pendant bracket.

Claims

1. In combination, a track, an electrical light unit mounted in said track, and a plurality of snap-on clips attached to said track, said clips being spaced-apart along said track;

each snap-on clip being mounted to a ceiling and supporting said track such that said track hangs below a plane of said ceiling;

each of said clips comprising an inverted generally U-shaped member formed of a horizontal base and a pair of legs projecting downwardly from said base to form therebetween a channel in which said track is mounted;

each leg including at least one spring arm projecting into said channel;

said track including a pair of vertical surfaces facing respective ones of said legs, and a horizontal shoulder projecting from an upper end of each said surfaces to define a corner with said surface;

each spring arm projecting upwardly into said channel and being elastically displaceable outwardly toward its respective leg by said track as said track is pushed upwardly therepast, an upper end of each spring arm springing into engagement with an underside of said shoulder as said shoulder travels upwardly past said upper end, each of said clips being mounted to said ceiling for rotation about a vertical axis to enable said channels to be aligned with one another for receiving said track.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said track projects downwardly past lower ends of said legs.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein lower ends of said legs are bent away from each other, each leg being inclined relative to both the vertical and horizontal directions to guide said track upwardly into said channel.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein lower ends of said legs are bent away from each other, each leg being inclined relative to both the vertical and horizontal directions to guide said track upwardly into said channel.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein each of said spring arms includes a relaxed position situated sufficiently far into said channel to cause said upper end thereof to spring into engagement with a respective one of said corners when said shoulder travels upwardly past said upper end, and with a top of said track situated immediately adjacent said base of said track.

6. The combination according to claim 1, wherein each of said spring arms includes a relaxed position situated sufficiently far into said channel to cause said upper end thereof to spring into engagement with a respective one of said corners when said shoulder travels upwardly past said upper end, and with a top of said track situated immediately adjacent said base of said track.